Collapsible carton



W. H. INMAN COLLAPSIBLE CARTON May 10, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 18, 1956 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM H. INMAN HIS ATTORNEY May 10, 1960 w. H. INMAN 2,936,103

coLLAPsILE CARTON Filed April 18, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM H. INMAN HIS AT TORNY May l0, 1960 w. H. INMAN coLLAPsIBLE CARTON 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 18, 1956 lasy INVENTOR.

WILLIAM H. INMAN HIS ATTORNEY May l0, 1960 w. H. INMAN 2,936,103

coLLAPsIBLE CARTON Filed April 18, 1956l 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR.

WILLIAM H. INMAN BY HIS ATTORNEY United States Patent Q COLLAPSIBLE CARTON William H. lnman, Newark, N.Y., assignor .to Bloomer Bros. Company, Newark, N.Y., a corporation of New York Application April 18, 1956, Serial No. 578,993

Claims. (Cl. 229-51) This invention relates to` collapsible cartons made of fibrous material, `such as cardboard for packaging ice cream and other frozen comestibles, and the like. As the result of a recent invention, such cartons have been provided with bottom iiaps so constructed as to be automatically unfolded and extended by manipulation of the side walls. This automatic bottom construction has been combined with a side opening pull iiap and has resulted in a practical and useful carton, which has been widely used in this field. However, these cartons were so constructed that when the side opening ap was pulled and the closure wall opened, the bottom aps were moved out of engagement and the carton became partially unfolded and unfit for further use.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved carton of the general character described, but so constructed as to remain substantially intact when opened for partial removal of the contents, and thus, kept in condition for being reclosed for further preservation of the remaining contents.

Another object is to provide a carton of the above nature, which requires no more material than the cartons described above in which the bottom aps moved out of engagement when the side opening flap was pulled.

Another object is to provide a carton having the above advantages, which is so constructed as to be readily manufactured, conveniently erected for filling and con veniently opened by the consumer, as described above.

A further object is to afford a carton having the above advantages in a form capable of being. readily manufactured in quantity lots, by known machines and at relatively low cost.

To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a one-piece blank cut and scored ready for folding to Vform a carton embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the bottom ap portions folded over and glue applied; v

Fig. 3 is an edge view of the blank as seen from the bottom in Fig. 2, but with the outer wall portions partially folded over toward glued position;

Fig. 4 is a similar to Fig. 3, but with the parts glued together and the carton in collapsed condition;

Figs. 5 and 6 are top plan views of the inside of the carton in progressive positions of erection for filling;

Figs. 7 and 8 are bottom plan views from the outside of the carton in progressive positions of erection for filling substantially corresponding to Figs. 5 and 6, respectively;

Fig. 9 is a perspective View of the carton in erected position with the top fiaps open for filling the carton;

Fig. 1.0 is a prespective View of the carton showing the same erected, filled and closed; v

ice

Fig. ll is a perspective view of the carton as viewed from the opposite end as in Fig. 10, and showing the carton after being opened for removal of a portion of the contents;

Fig. 12 is a plan view similar to Fig. 1, of a blank cut, scored and folded to form a carton having a slightly modified construction;

Fig. 13 is a plan View similar to Fig. 2, but showing the blank lof Fig. 12 with the bottom ap portions lfolded over and glue applied;

Fig. 14 is an elevational View showing the bottom end of the modified carton of Fig. 12, and

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the modified carton, showing the carton after being opened forremoval of a portion of the contents.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention, herein disclosed by way of illustration, is preferably made of a one-piece cardboard blank such as shown in Fig. l of the drawings, cut and scored to form front, intermediate, rear and closure walls 20, 22, 2.4- and 26, respectively, separated by parallel scored fold lines 28, 30 and 32, `as shown. A securing strip 34 is foldably connected with closure wall 26 along a fold line 36 which is parallel to fold lines 28, 30 and 32, as shown in Fig. l. Securing strip 34 is adapted to be detachably glued to the `free edge portion of the opposite or front wall 20 when the walls are folded over as hereafter described. Closure wall Z6 is preferably provided adjacent the bottom of the carton with a line of weakening which may comprise, singly or in combination, a line of perforations 38, a single slit 40 extending partially through the material forming the closure wall, or any other known meansrwhereby the material forming the closure wall is weakened for controlling the direction and extent of the tearing action of theclosure wall. Line of perforations 38 preferably comprises a series of spaced short slits which may extend partially or completely through the material forming the closure wall, as shown in Fig. 1 and this line of perforations 38 is substantially coincident with the fold line between the closure wall and its attached bottom fiap. Slit 40 which is partially cut through the closure wall on the under surface thereof (upper surface as viewed in Fig. 1) extends substantially transversely across the closure wall 'from the front to the rear edge thereof, and is spaced slightly upwardly from the line of perforations, as shown in Fig. 1, and for a purpose hereafter described.

Front wall 20 preferably has an undulating slit 42 eX- tending thereacross adjacent the upper free edge thereof, as shown m Fig. 11. Slit 42 extends only partially through the structure forming front wall 20 and provides a weakened surface area 43 to aid in the opening of the carton and to prevent peeling of front wall 20 when the carton is opened. Securing strip 34 is preferably provided with a slit 44 adjacent its line of folding with closure wall 26, to prevent an extension of surface peeling of strip 34 into the closure wall when the carton is opened. Y Side walls 20, 22, 24 and 26 are provided with top closure aps 46, 48, 50 and 52, respectively, which are foldably connected therewith along a score line 54. Flap 46 is formed with a slit 56 to receive a tongue or hook S8 on flap 50 for securing these top flaps in position for closing the top of the carton. The carton is erected and filled through the top, after which the top flaps are folded over and locked in position for closing the carton. When the carton is opened, as hereafter described, the top aps preferably remain in locked position for holding the top of the carton erect.

My carton is also preferably provided with bottom closure aps which are so constructed that the carton may be completely foldedand glued by the manufacturer easel@ and then shipped in collapsed, dat position to the user who may erect it by merely applying pressure to the opposite corners of the collapsed carton, as hereafter described. The bottom aps 1are so constructed that they will fold inwardly inside the carton when the carton side walls are collapsed, and will automatically move outwardly to their erected positions normal to the side walls of the carton, when the carton is erected. To this end, I preferably provide three bottom closure members or aps which are foldably connected with certain of the carton side Walls along a score line 60 (Fig. l). The positions of the Various bottom flaps may be interchanged without affecting the operation of the carton and without departing from the spirit of the present invention, but I prefer to position the bottom aps with a pair of inwardly folding flaps 62 and 64 located adjacent to each other and foldably connected to the closure and rear walls 26 and 24, respectively. Flaps 62 and 64 are provided with score lines 66 and 68, respectively, extending diagonally across and separating each of them into two portions, as at70 and 72 (Fig. 1), so that each may be folded over itself and over the side wall to which it is connected, as described hereafter.

The outer free edges of flaps 62 and 64 have the irregular shape shown the drawings, including notches 76 and 78, respectively, for engagement with each other in the erected position of the carton. Flap 62 also has a member or flap 80 foldably connected therewith along a score line 82. As shown in Fig. 1, score line 82 is substantially parallel with and, in effect, forms an extension of score line 36. Member 88 is adapted to be attached to front Wall 20, preferably on the inner surface adjacent the lower or bottom end of wall 20, as hereafter described. Intermediate wall 22 has a substantially rectangular inner bottom flap 84 foldably connected therewith along line 60, as shown in Fig. 1.

In the folding and gluing of the blank, as shown in Fig. 2, bottom flap 64 is folded on itself and folded inwardly over rear wall 24, asl shown. Flap 84 is folded over intermediate wall 22. Flap 62 is folded on itself and folded inwardly over closure wall 26, member 80 being folded over the outer portion 72 of flap 62, as shown. In this position of the parts, glue is applied to a restricted area 86 on ap 64, to the upper surface of member 80, as at 88. Glue is likewise applied in a narrow band 90 on securing strip 34 adjacent its line of fold leaving an unglued outer portion 92 to provide a free, pull tab which is preferably extended and formed with an extension 94 which is foldably connected with securing strip 34 along a diagonally extending fold line 96, as shown ,in Figs. l and 2l.

In the further folding and gluing of the blank, front wall and intermediate wall 22 are folded as a unit along score line over closure wall 26 and rear wall 24, respectively, as 'shown in Figst 3 and 4. During this operation flap 64 becomes attached to inner bottom flap 84 and member 80 on ap 62 is positioned to engage and becomes attached to the vinner surface ofV front wall 20, adjacent the bottom end thereof. Securing strip 3 4 is thereafter folded over and glued to weakened area 43 of front wall 20, thus completing the folding and gluing of the carton in the compact, collapsed condition shown in Fig. A, ready for storage shipment to ice cream dispensers.

When it is desired to erect the carton for filling, this is quickly accomplished by inward pressure against the opposite,Y edges 98 and 100 (Fig. 4) which serves to separate and distend the side walls in the progressive manf ner shown in Figs. 5 and 6, as viewed through the open top of the container, and in Figs. 7 and 8, as viewed from the bottom 0f the centaines ,The separati@ Qi interv mediate wall 22 from rear wall 24 tends to pull the inf wardly folding flap 64 and the inner bottom flap 84- to @rested PQSiHQn, while .the Separation of dosare Wall 2.6 and freut wall@ palb inwardly tamed EaP Si@ t9 @tested position. Flap 62 rides along the outer surface of inner flap 84, as shown in Fig. 7, and under the free end of outer flap 64 until notch 76 moves into engagement with notch 78, as shown in Fig. 8. Engagement of the notches tends to limit the engaging movement of the flaps in a position normal to the side Walls of the carton. The erecting movement of the iiaps is also preferably limited by the engagement of inner bottom llap 84 with the inside of ilaps'62 and 64 along the bottom corners of the carton.

With the bottom flaps in erected position as shown in Fig. 8, the inner portion of ap 62 overlies the inner portion of flap 64 while the outer portion of flap 62 is under the outer portion of flap 64. In addition, each of outer aps 62 and 64 overlies the diagonally extending score line of the opposite outer flap, thereby providing a strong bottom construction. Large inner ap 84 overlies the point of engagement of notches 76 and 78 and also preferably overlies diagonal score lines 66 and 68 for substantially the full length thereof, thereby providing a substantially leakproof bottom closure and also providing a smooth interior for the bottom end of the carton.

The carton is quickly snapped to its above erected position by merely pressing on opposite corners 98 and 100, as stated, leaving the top closure flaps in open position, as shown in Fig. 9, to receive the contents. The carton resting on its bottom, is then filled and the top closed by folding flaps 48 and 52 down across the filling opening in order, after which flap 46 is folded down, followed by flap 50. Tongue 58 of ap 46 is engaged in slit 56 of ap 46 to secure the closure of the top or filling opening. It will be noted that tongue 58 is on the flap of the rear wall to which the closure wall is attached, and is pointed in the direction of the closure wall so that an opening pull of the latter serves to keep the tongue in engagement with the slit to maintain that end of the carton closed. The carton is now in the condition as shown in Fig. 10 and is now ready to be delivered to the consumer.

To open the carton, it is only necessary to grasp the unglued end of securing strip 34. For this purpose, tab or extension 94 may be readily bent relative to securing strip 34 about fold line 96. The opening of closure wall 26 is made easier by the provision of weakened area 43 on the upper free edge of front wall 20. This weakened area not only makes it easier to break the detachable connection between securing strip 34 and front wall 20, `but it also prevents undesired peeling of either the front Wall or securing strip. Slit 44 also prevents undesired surface peeling of closure wall 26 by limiting any peeling of the securing strip 34 from extending into closure wall 26.

After securing strip 34 is detached from front Wall 20, it is necessary to separate the closure wall 26 from bottom liap 62 which is foldably connected therewith. I have found it desirable to separate the above wall and ap along a line extending transversely across the closure wall adjacent the lower or bottom end of the carton. I have found that if the carton is made of cylinder board or paper, and the blank is positioned so that the bers extend substantially transversely across the closure wall, closure wall 26 may be moved to open position shown in Fig. ll and separated from bottom ap 62 by merely exerting sufficient force in the opening direction, as by means of an upward pull on securing strip 34. However, I have found that closure wall 26 may be more readily separated from bottom flap 62 if the closure wall is provided With a suitable line of weakening along which the tearing action may readily take place in a predetermined manner and direction. To this end, closure Wall 26 is preferably provided with line of perforations 33, or slit 4t?, or both, extending substantially transversely thereacross adjacent the lower end of the carton. I have also found that while the tearing action can be controlled by means of either line of perfcrations 38, or by slit 4 0,

the tearing action is easier and more readily controlled `if the closure wall is provided with both perforations 38 bottom ilap 62 and extends substantially transversely across the closure wall. Slit 40 also extends substantially transversely across the closure wall, but is spaced upwardly from the bottom of the carton and upwardly from perforations 38, as shown in Fig. 1. Slit 40 not only limits any upward tearing of the closure wall at an angle to the line of perforations, but slit 40 also prevents any undesired peeling of the closure wall which might result from the tearing action. In addition, slit 40 may serve as either a supplementary line of separation for the closure wall, or as a substitute line of separation. That is, the closure wall may separate along slit 40 instead of perforations 38, or it may separate partially along the line of perforations and partially along slit 40.

Regardless of the exact line of separation of closure wall 26 from inner bottom flap 62, both ends of the carton remain erect when the carton is in open position, as shown in Fig. 11. Theupper end of the carton remains erect because ilap 52 which is foldably connected with closure wall 26, may move independently of toplocking flaps 46 and 50, and therefore, the opening of the closure wall does not disturb the'locking action of flaps 46 and 50. That is, although top ap 52 is held in closed position by iiaps 46 and 50 when the carton is in closed position, as shown in Fig. 10, flap 52 is at the same time held out of contact with the contents of the carton by ap 48. Therefore, when closure wall 26 is raised, ilap 52 readily moves upwardly with the closure wall to its position shown in Fig. 1l, while the remaining top flaps are maintained in closed position, thereby holding the upper end of the carton in shape, as shown in Fig. l1.

The lower end of the carton remains erect because of the unique construction and arrangement of the bottom iiaps; Specically, there is a positive connection between the front and rear walls of the carton, adjacent the lower end, comprising inwardly folding ap 62 which is attached to the front wall of the carton, and inwardly folding flap 64 which is attached to rear wall 24. That is,

Consequently, ap 62 remains in engagement with ap 64, as shown in Fig. ll, and prevents flap 64 from moving in a clockwise direction and completes a connection between the front and rear walls of the carton. It will be noted that the separation of closure wall 26 from flap 62 does not disturb the position of flaps 62 and 64, as has been the case in certain cartons heretofore used, but the separation of closure wall 26 along its line of weakening serves to even more securely hold the bottom flaps in their positions shown in Fig. 11. Since flap 64 is foldably attached to rear wall 24, the above connection between aps 62 and 64 not only prevents flap 64 from moving upwardly during the opening of the closure wall and forms a connection between the front and rear walls lof the carton, but it also holds rear wall 24 erect.

Rear wall 24 is also held in erected position at substantially right angles to intermediate wall 22 by the glued connection between flap 64 which is attached to the rear wall, and inner ap 84 which is attached to intermediate wall 22. In addition, another factor tending to hold the bottom of the carton erect when closure wall 26 is opened results from the adhesion of the contents of the carton to the front and rear walls and to inner bottom ap 84. Since rear ,wall 24 is held erect, the opening of closure wall 26 causes said wall to swing upwardly about score line 32 relative to rear wall 24. Thus, front, rear and intermediate walls remain in their erected positions when the closure wall is opened, as above.

The contents of the carton may now be readily re- 6 moved by dipping and the carton reclosed for replacing under refrigeration to preserve the residue of the contents for further consumption. This may be readily accomplished by merely inserting top flap 52 outside of flap 48, but inside of locking aps 46 and 50 and then swinging closure wall 26 downwardly to its closed position. If desired, the carton may be more tightly reclosed by inserting securing strip 34 inside of -front wall Ztl.

On the other hand, if when the carton is opened it is desired to remove the contents by slicing, the carton may be completely disassembled by merely unlocking the top flaps and separating bottom ap 64 from bottom ap 84. This lcompletely unfolds the carton and leaves the contents in exposed position resting only on intermediate wall 22.

En Figs. 12-15 I have shown a slightly modified construction in which the inwardly folding flaps are on opposite rather than adjacent side walls. In all other respects this modified construction is identical to the construction shown in Figs. 1-11. The elements of the modified carton construction are indicated by reference characters which are units higher than the reference characters indicating the same or similar parts in the carton construction shown in Figs. 1-11.

As can be seen in Figs. 12 and 13, inwardly folding flap 164 is foldably connected with front wall 120 while inwardly folding lap 162 is foldably connected with rear wall 124. Large rectangular flap 184 is foldably connected with closure wall 126. Flap 162 is provided with a member or ange which has glue or other suitable adhesive applied thereto as at 138 (Fig. 13) for attachment to 4the inner surface of intermediate wall 122, adjacent the lower end thereof, in much the same manner as member 811 is attached to front wall 20 in the carton construction disclosed and described earlier. Flap 164 has glue applied thereto as at 186 for securing it to inner bottom flap 184. Securing strip 134 has a narrow band of adhesive applied thereto as at 190 for attaching strip 134 to the upper free edge of front wall 120. rl`he modiiied ca-rton is now completely folded and glued and is in a collapsed hat condition similar to that shown in Figs. 3 and 4, ready for storage and shipment to ice cream dispensers.

The carton may be erected' for filling by applying pressure to the opposite corners of the collapsed carton in the same manner as described above with reference to the carton shown in Figs. 1411. During the erection of the carton, Ithe bottom flaps are automatically moved to positions substantially normal to the side walls and into interengagement, as shown in Fig. 14. Specifically, the separation of closure wall 126 from front wall 120 tends to pull inwardly vfolding flap 164 and inner bottom flap 184 to erected positions while the separation of rear wall 124 from intermediate wall 122 pulls inwardly folded flap 162 to erected position. The inner portion of ap 162 rides along the outer surface of ap 184 and passes beneath the outer portion of ap 164, as can be seen in Vment of inner bottom flap 184 with the inside of flaps 162 and 164 along the bottom corners of the carton.

Closure wall 126 is preferably provided with a transversely extending line of perforations 13S and a slit 141) (Fig. 12) which are similar to perforations 3S and slit 40 described earlier, whereby closure wall 126 may be readily separated from inner bottom flap 184, and thereafter swung to its open position shown in Fig. 15. After closure wall 126 is detached from front wall 120, it may be readily lseparatedfrom inner bottom flap 184 along 7 perforations 13S or slit 140, or both. Regardless of the exact line of separation of closure wall 126 from bottom Hap 84, both ends ofthe carton remain erect when the car-ton is in open position as shown in Fig. 15, and for the same reasons as discussed earlier in regard to the carton shown in Figs. l-ll, and therefore, further discussion is believed unnecessary.

The modified carton may be completely folded and glued by the manufacturer, shipped and packed in Hat condition to the user who may then readily open the carton by merely app-lying pressure on the opposite corners of the collapsed carton. During erection, the bottom closure flaps automatically move to their fully erected positions substantially normal to the side walls of the carton. Thereafter the carton may be easily iilled at the top and closed in the usual manner, ready for delivery to` the consumer'. The consumer mayy readily open the carton for removing the contents by dipping. Securing strip i3d may be detached from fronty wall 1Z0, closure wall L26 separated from bottom flap 5.84 and the closure wall and attached top flap 152 readily moved to their open positions shown in Fig. 15. Thus, it will be seen that the modified carton has the same advantages of construction and operation as the carton described earlier, and further description thereof is unnecessary.

Thus it will be seen from the above description that my invention provides cartons which may be readily and economically manufactured with the usual materials and by known methods and standard machines in compact, collapsed condition for storage or shipment to food dispensers. The latter may erect the cartons by merely pressing on their opposite corners to erect the automatic bottom constructions. Thereafter, the cartons may be easily iilled at the top and closed in the usualV manner until ready for delivery to the consumer. The consumer can readily open the cartons by pulling on strip 34 so as to swing the closure wall to open condition in which the contents are exposed and may be readily dipped out to the extent desired. Thereafter, the cartons may be readily reclosed to preserve the remaining contents.

In addition, it will be seen that cartons having-the above advantages may be readily and economically manufactured with a minimum of loss. That is, the blanks, as shown in Figs. 1 and 14 are so designed that there is a minimum wastage of cardboard stock material and these cartons require no more material than do known cartons having automatic bottom constructions of the type which separate when the closure wall is opened.v

Thus, my invention provides an improvedv carton requiring no more material than cartons heretofore made, but having the additional advantage of remaining in erected position when the closurewall is opened.

The invention, as herein disclosed, comprises related embodiments of the invention disclosed in my copending patent applications, Serial Nos. 578,996 and 579,008, tiled April 18, 1956, and certain features disclosed and claimed herein are claimed in my said copending applications.

It will thus be seen that the invention accomplishes vits obiects and while it has been herein disclosed by reference to the details of preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that such disclosure is intended in an illustrative, rather than a limiting sense, as it is contemplated that various modifications in the construction and arrangement of the parts will readily occur to those skilled in the art, within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A collapsible carton having a self erecting bottom comprising a blank cut, scored andv foldedto form foldably connected front, intermediate, rear and closure walls, a detachable connection between said closure wall and said front wall for securing said closurewall in closed position, top closure aps on said walls, bottom closure flaps. on certain of saidA Walls 'comprising-apair of aps foldably connected with an adjacent pair of said walls and each formed with a substantially diagonal fold line and adapted to fold inwardly at said fold line between said walls when said walls are collapsed, an inner bottom closure ilap on one of the two remaining walls and having a fixed glued connection with one of said inwardly folding aps, and a member on the other of said inwardly folding flaps for fixedly connecting said ap to the other of said remaining walls, said bottom closure flaps being moved to erected closed position normal to said walls and into frictional interengagement by the erecting movement of said walls for holding said carton in erected position, locking means on two of said top closure aps for releasably locking said top closure ilaps in closed position in the erected position of the carton, said closure wall being divisible adjacent the bottom of the carton into two portions, one of said portions being connected to said front wall` through said other of said inwardly folding liaps and its associated member, the other of said closure wall portions being detachable from said front wall and separable from said lirst mentioned portion for movement to open position to expose the carton contents, said lirst mentioned portion of said closure wall together with` said other of said inwardly folding flaps and its associated member maintaining a fixed connection between said, front and rear walls for holding said bottom flaps and said front and rear walls in erected position.

2. A collapsible carton having a self erecting bottom comprising a blank cut, scored and folded to form foldably connected front, intermediate, rear and closure walls,- a detachable connection between said closure wall and said front wall for securing said closure wall in closed position, top closure flaps on said walls, bottom closure flaps on certain of said walls comprising a pair of flaps foldably connected with an adjacent pair of said walls and' each formed with, a substantially diagonal fold line and adapted to fold inwardly at said fold line between said walls when said walls are collapsed, an inner bottom closure ap on one of the two remaining walls and having a xed glued connection with one of said inwardly folding aps, and a member on the other of said inwardly folding aps for fixedly connecting said flap to the other of said remaining walls, said bottom closure aps being moved to erected closed position normal to said walls and into frictional interengagement by the erecting movement of said walls for holding the bottom end of said carton in erected'position, locking means on two of said top closure iiaps for releasably locking said top closure flaps inv closed position in the erected position of the carton, said closure wall having a line of weakening extending thereacross adjacent the bottom of the carton for dividing said closure wall into two portions, one of said portions being connected to said front wall through said other of said inwardly folding liaps and its associated member, the other of said closure wall portions being detachable from said front wall and separable along said line of weakening from said first mentioned portion for movement to open position to expose the carton contents, said first mentioned portion of said closure wall together with said other of said inwardly folding aps and its associated member maintaining a fixed connection between said front and rear walls for holding said bottom flaps and said front and rear walls in erected position. Y

3. A collapsible car-ton having a self erecting bottom comprising a blank cut, scored and folded to form foldably connected front, intermediate, rear and closure walls, a detachable connection between said closure wall and said front wall for securing said closure wall in closed position, top closure iiaps on said'walls, bottom closure llaps on certain of said walls comprising arpair of'flaps foldably connected' with an adjacent pair of said walls andA each formed with a substantially diagonal fold line and adapted to fold inwardly at said fold line between said walls when said walls are collapsed, an inner bottom aeaonos closure flap on one of the two remaining walls and havi ing a fixed glued connection with one of said inwardly folding flaps, and a member on the other of said inwardly folding aps for connecting said flap to the other of said remaining walls, said inwardly folding flaps being located between said detachable connection and a hinge connection between said rear and said intermediate walls, said bottom closure aps being moved to erected closed position normal to said walls land into frictional engagement by the erecting movement of said walls,1ocking means on two of said rtop closure aps for releasably locking said top closure aps in closed position in the erected position of the carton, said closure wall having a slit pantially cut therethrough rand extending thereacross adjacent -the bottom of the carton for dividing the closure wall into two portions, one of said portions being connected to said front wall through said other of said inwardly folding flaps and its associated member, the other of said closure wall portions being detachable from said front wall and separable along said slit from said first mentioned por tion for movement to open position to expose the carton contents, said first mentioned portion of said closure wall together with said other of said inwardly folding flaps and its associated member maintaining a fixed connection between said front and rear walls for holding said bottom flaps and said front and rear walls in erected position.

4. A collapsible carton having a self erecting bottom comprising a blank cut, scored and folded to form foldably connected front, intermediate, rear and closure walls, a detachable connection between said closure wall and said front wall for securing said closure wall in closed position, top closure flaps on said walls, bottom closure aps on certain of said walls comprising a pair of flaps foldably connected with an adjacent pair of Isaid walls and each formed with a substantially diagonal fold line and adapted to fold inwardly at said fold line between said walls when said walls are collapsed, an inner bottom closure flap on one of the two remaining walls and having a fixed glued connection with one of said inwardly folding flaps, one of said bottom flaps being foldably connected withsaid closure wall, and a member connecting the other of said inwardly folding flaps to the other of said remaining walls, said inwardly folding aps being located between said detachable connection and a hinge connection between said rear and said intermediate walls, said bottom closure flaps being moved to erected closed position normal to said walls and into fric-l tional engagement by the erecting movement of said walls, locking means on two of said top closure aps for releasably locking said top closure aps in closed position in the erected position of the carton, said closure wall having a line of weakening extending thereacross adjacent the bottom of the carton, said closure wall being detachable from said opposite side wall and separable along said line of weakening from the bottom closure'ap foldably connected with the closure wall for movement to open position to expose the carton contents,'said 10 closure wall bottom ap remaining connected to said front wall and said rear and said intermediate @walls remaining connected together by said bottom flaps and said member for maintaining the carton bottom closure and for holding said front and rear walls erect.

5. A collapsible carton having a self erecting bottom comprising a blank cut, scored and folded to form foldably connected front, intermediate, rear and closure walls, a detachable connection between said closure wall and said front wall for securing said closure wall in closed position, top closure flaps on said walls, bottom closure aps on certain of said walls comprising a pair of aps foldably connected with an adjacent pair of said walls and each formed with a substantially diagonal fold line and adapted to fold inwardly at said fold linel between said walls when said walls are collapsed, an inner bottom closure liap on'one of the two remaining walls and having a fixed glued connection with one of said inwardly folding flaps, and a member on the other of said inwardly folding aps for fixedly connecting said ap to the other of said remaining walls, said inwardly folding flaps being located between said detachable connection and a hinge connection fbetween said rear and said intermediate walls, said bottom closure iiaps being moved to erected closed position normal to said walls and into frictional interengagement by fthe erecting movement of `said walls for holding 'the bottom end of said carton in erected position, locking means on two of said top closure aps for releasably locking said top closure flaps in closed position in the erected position of the carton, said closure wall having a line of weakening extending thereacross adjacent the bottom of the carton for dividing said closure wall -into two portions, one of said portions being connected to said front wall through said other of said inwardl;r folding flaps and its associated member, the other of said closure wall pontions being detachable from said front wall and separable along said line of weakening from said first mentioned portion for movement to open position to expose the carton contents, said first mentioned portion of said closure wall together with said other of said inwardly folding flaps and its associated member maintaining a fixed connection between said front and rear walls for holding said bottom aps and said front and rear walls in erected position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,992,222 La Grua Feb. 26, 1935 2,114,134 Weiss Apr. 12, 1938 2,186,973 Hothersall Jan. 16, 1940 2,384,559 Powell Sept.,1l, 1945 2,655,304 Inman Oct. 13, 1953 2,686,629 Inman Aug. 17, 1954 2,747,786 Arneson May 29, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS Y 489,677 Great Britain Aug. 2, 1938 

